Discovering the meaning behind the 'good stick'

Perhaps  the man I met on the bush road at Chapleau some 30 years ago who told me "Maybe some day you will find a good stick too", meant much more than I thought he did.

As I walked along the road, coming towards me was a man who I had often seen go by my house, but I did not know him. As he approached, he said, "Where is your good stick?", stopping to explain that he always carried a "good stick" with him. He moved it from hand to hand, he told me and it served to strengthen his arms and upper body.

 Perhaps  the man I met on the bush road at Chapleau some 30 years ago who told me "Maybe some day you will find a good stick too", meant much more than I thought he did.

 As he passed on by he added,  "Maybe you will also see the wolf. It's auburn. Don't be afraid. He won't hurt you." I never saw the man again, or the wolf.... (or so I thought)

I had written a story about finding the good stick some years ago, and even spoke about it at the 90th anniversary reunion of Chapleau High School in 2012. I hadn't thought about it much recently, until I received huge box from my lifelong friend Harry 'Butch' Pellow. Upon opening it. Butch had sent me a walking stick. UPDATE: Harry Pellow died on December 13, 2016

Butch and MJM circa 1947

But, it was the enclosed letter that made me fully realize the metaphor of the "good stick". Harry wrote that it was sent with best wishes "as you carry it". 

He added: "As our frailties become more evident, we need to be mindful of every step going forward -- be reminded of your friend many years ago who explained the "good stick theory."  I get the message my friend.

Butch and Brigitte Pellow 2015

By the way, the bush road was actually a logging road built originally by Edgar Pellow, Butch's uncle circa 1930.

Let me go back to my story about the good stick, and I hope I don't mangle metaphors too badly in so doing. "Shortly thereafter I came across a stick and picked it up. It wasn't as sturdy or straight as the one the man was carrying, but crooked as it was I had found my good stick. My good stick became my travelling companion helping me cross a beaver dam and walk along the edge of a pond. When I became tired I leaned on it and took a rest, and when I stumbled it helped me keep my balance, and aided me as I climbed a hill.

"My good stick was very powerful indeed, and long after I lost it I thought that if that old piece of wood from a dead tree could have been so much help to me as I wandered along, giving me confidence to surmount minor obstacles, maybe the man I met on the road meant much more with his comments than maybe I would find a good stick and even see the wolf that would not harm me some day."

For a guy like me who loves metaphor, it took me about 30 years to grasp the implied comparison between a piece of wood that was very helpful and powerful in helping me as I walked along life's road and my friends who have also been there with me and for me -- most particularly Harry 'Butch' Pellow. I have been most blessed.

Thanks Butch for being the "good stick" so often over the past 70 years or so.

I was so excited with my discovery that I was going to use it as a framework for a review of 2015 which was a truly amazing one for me, as my friends, aka "good sticks" made possible. 

Back David, Jim, MJ, Ed, Brian, Joel, Antoine Seated, Dennis, Mark. Ron

However, the Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC, was meeting and of course, I had to bring my good stick to our weekly session. It is just on three years now since FMCC was launched quite unintentionally.. 

I started having coffee at Starbucks in the newly opened, now closed Target store, was joined by Joel Vinge, then Jim Roberts, and the rest is history.If everyone shows, we now have 20 members. There is no agenda. We meet for fellowship, many laughs for an hour with all the "good sticks" who have become good friends.

We celebrate birthdays and other special occasions, and have played golf and had breakfasts at Rocky View Ranch.

Without mixing metaphors any further, let me leave you with a quote from Stephen Grellet as I head out carrying my good stick:  “I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.”

PS  I am not even going to try and deal with the wolf metaphor now!!!

Ron McFarland hosts Christmas breakfast party for Friday Morning Coffee Club

Host Ron

Friday Morning Coffee Club held its second Christmas Party at the home of Ron and Judy McFarland where a delicious breakfast was served to those members who were able to attend.

Ron, as always, was a most gracious host, and a most sincere thank you to Ron and Judy for having us over to enjoy a hearty breakfast and a great time.

David, Ed, Antoine

 We enjoyed good fellowship, more than a few laughs, and time with friends on a Friday morning as the Christmas season got underway.

Jim relaxing

 Some members were unable to attend because of other commitments, including travel to warmer climes.

Joe listening carefully

Bill (centre) is sharing a story while Terry and Michael look on

Joel also attended but was official photographer so we didn't get photo of him so decided to use one from his recent appearance at College of the Rockies with Duffy where they attended a Christmas party.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL FROM FMCC

Friday Morning Coffee Club bids fond farewell to 'team members' at Cranbrook Target store as Starbucks closes

FMCC final meeting at Target Starbucks in Cranbrook

The Friday Morning Coffee Club, aka FMCC, held its last meeting at the Starbucks in the Cranbrook Target store today (January 23/15) bidding a fond farewell to the "team members" for their friendly service and hospitality over the almost two years we have been meeting there.

FMCC is a minor casualty of course,compared to the situation facing the more than 100 "team members" at the Cranbrook store as Target closes its 133 stores in Canada, but we really did not want to  move.

In fact, upon arrival today, we did not know that Starbucks was closing so soon, until executive team members, always professional, came and gave us the news, thanking us for our weekly visits.

Merry Christmas to Target guests

FMCC was founded at Target Starbucks shortly after the store opened. I started having coffee there simply to show support for former students from College of the Rockies, who had become part of the new venture.

Joel Vinge joined me within a week, followed by Jim Roberts: the word spread and we have had up to 15 members show up for coffee, and we are all from different walks of life, and different parts of the country and one from the United States.

As FMCC membership grew, we chatted about the possibility of moving to a larger place, but decided to stay with our friends at Target.

We have celebrated birthdays, Halloween (and my birthday), and during the holiday season delivered a rousing rendition of "We wish you a Merry Christmas' to Target guests -- assisted by store team members.

Our weekly get togethers have led to new friendships and also resulted in Breakfast at the Ranch hosted by Jim Roberts and Mark Spence-Vinge, with Chef Justin Cleland, and a Christmas party at the home of Ron McFarland.

Next week, we will hold another Breakfast at the Ranch for a special meal prepared by Chef Justin, assisted by Jim and Mark.

FMCC plans to continue. A search committee has been formed and is scouting suitable locations for the group.

However, it won't be the same. Without getting into the pros and cons of Target's decision to pack up and leave Canada, they have an excellent team at their Cranbrook store, and on a very personal basis. I will miss them.

Many have become personal friends, and I wish them all the best. You gave FMCC a great home, and quite frankly deserved better. Thank you.